Game apparatus



March 27, 1934. J. F. INMAN El" AL 1,952,624

GAME APPARATUS Filed June 16, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l k/ 1 LT T T INVENTORS if/7E5 Ff/VM/l/V BY MARY [NM/4N @mmmw ATTORNEY March 27, 1934. J lNMAN 5- AL 1,952,624

GAME APPARATUS Filed June 16, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i ll (11 A'IIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIII INVENTORS J4ME5 F f/VM/l/V BY MARY f/V/MZ/V Patented Mar. 27, 1934 GAME APPARATUS- James F. Inman and Mary Inman, Los Angeles, Calif Application June 16', 1930', Serial No. 461,594

1 Claim.

Our invention relates to a game apparatus whereby a new and interesting game may be played either indoors or outdoors.

The objects of our invention are: first, to provide a game apparatus whereby a ball may be caromed in and through a certain defined passage or passages or ways connected together and bounded by fixed walls or rails, and also whereby the ball may be struck against and caromed from such walls or rails indefinite directions or angles to move or drive the ball the greatest distance along and through the passage or passages, way or ways, in the field of play; second, to provide an apparatus of this 0 class in which the field of play, or the passages or ways therein, are provided with certain connected hazards or traps to the sides of the passages or ways which are to be avoided in playing the game; third, to provide a game apparatus of this class having certain'goals or goal spaces communicating with the passages or ways into which the balls are to be struck for scoring purposes; fourth, to provide novelly constructed and arranged goals or'goal spaces hav ing holes or recessesin elevated portions, and from which the balls are by gravity returned to a designated level field of play, from which the balls are again put in play to be driven to the next hole or goal; fifth, to provide a goal device of this class whereby a bell is sounded or other signal given when the ball is driven into the designated hole, recess, or goal, and Whereby such bell is actuated or other signal given by the ball itself when leaving such hole, recess, or goal; sixth, to provide a novelly con.- structed rebounding wall or rail whereby the ball, when struck against such wall or rail, is deflected or rebounded in such a manner that the same" is substantially prevented from leaving or bouncing upon the playing floor or surface but is deflected or rebounded from the rebounding wall or rail directly upon such playing floor or sure face, thus provi ng a structure whereby a ball may be moved or caromed a great distance 'through the passages or ways by a single blow without constructing the rebounding walls or rails of undesirable heights, thus also permitting the player to pass or step readily from one passage to another over such walls or rails; seventh, to provide a game apparatus of this class in which the playing floor or surface is soft or yieldable and the rebounding. walls or. rails solid or rigid,

and in which yieldable or resilient balls are used,

thus eliminating to a large extent any possible bouncing on the floor or playing surface and increasing to a maximum the distance through which the ball may move or carom through the passages or ways; eighth, to provide a game apparatus of this class which is so constructed that after some practice the directions and distances through which the balls may move or carom when struck a certain blow, may be accurately and scientifically determined; ninth, to provide a game apparatus of this class whereby a number of different games may be played; and, tenth, to provide a game apparatus of this class which is simple and economical of construction and which will not readily deteriorate or get out of order.

With these and other objects in view, as will appear hereinafter, my invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions, as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claim, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the characters of reference thereon which form a part of this application in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the field of play of our game apparatus in one form; Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary plan View of one of the goals; Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional elevational view of the goal construction taken through 3-3 of- Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is another sectional elevational view of the goal construction taken through 4-4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional elevational view taken through.55 of Fig.1, showing the construction of the rebounding rail in one form and its relation to the base or play-'- ing surface of thefield of play, and showing the relation thereof to one of the ballswhen engaging the rail; and, Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view ofa club or mallet for driving the ball.

Like'characters of reference refer to similar parts and portions throughout the views of the drawings.

The field of play may be of substantially any desired shape suitable to the space into which it is adapted to be placed or built. The base of the field of play consists preferably of a level floor 1, or other level foundation, on or over which is placed or secured a yieldable covering 2 which is preferably in the form of a thick felt which forms a playing surface. This playing surface of the field of play consists preferably of a continuous passage or way, or of a large number of passages or ways, which are connected at their ends, forminga circuitous passage which extends in a substantially zigzag or irregular 0 manner over the whole field of play so that the whole field of play is taken up by such passages or ways and. recesses, pockets, or goal spaces connected with the passages. The passages or ways, designated P, as shown in the drawings, are straight and relatively short and connect at their ends at substantially right angles to other passages or ways. These passages or' ways are relatively narrow but are of sufficient width that the players may readily traverse the field of play through the passages. We have found that passages of three foot width are of sufficient width for the purposes intended.

Intermediate the ends of the circuitous passage, that is the start and finish: ends, designated S and F in Fig. 1, are provided hazards or traps, designated T, which are arranged at relatively close intervals throughout the course of "the passage. These hazards or traps consist of pockets or recesses to one side of the general course of the passage and on the same level therewith, said hazards or traps being so arranged that they may be readily avoided by properly gauging the drive to carom the ball in the general course of the passage.

At substantially regular intervals between the ends of the passage, and also at the finish end thereof, are arranged goals or goal spaces, designated G, which are also positioned in pockets -or recesses to the side of the general course of the passage. The passage or passages, way or ways, are determined or bounded by rebounding walls or rails 3, a form of which is shown in Fig. 5 on an enlarged scale. This wall or rail may be made of any suitable material; we have found that wood is a very suitable material for this purpose. These rails are secured to the base 1 over the yieldable covering or padding 2, thus serving also to secure the covering or padding 2 at regular intervals to the base 1.

The lower portions ofthe rails are provided at their opposite sides with parallel vertical walls, and the opposite sides of the upper portions thereof are provided with inclined walls connected directly with and diverging upwardly from the vertical walls, forming substantially an overhanging cap-for the upper portion of the rails. We have found by experiment that the angle be.- tween the inclined upper portions of thewalls of the rail to the vertical walls should be between one hundredfifty-five and one hundred sixty degrees in order to obtain satisfactory results. It will be noted, however, that this angle may vary depending upon the kind of covering or padding 2 used, and upon the kind of rebounding wall or rail, or the kind of ball employed. The ball, designated 4, with which the game is played, may be an ordinary golf ball, or a similar ball with an elastic covering 4a, as shown. The relation between the inclined walls of the rails and the vertical rebounding walls thereof is such that when the ball engages or is struck against the vertical rebounding wall, the inclined wall portion thereof barely clears the ball, as shown in Fig.v 5. We have found that by constructing these. members in such relation, when the ball is driven against the wall. or rail and strikes the vertical rebounding wall thereof, the same will be deflected or rebounded in a substantially horizontal plane directly on the playing surface of the felt without bouncing vertically, the inclined portions of the walls or rails tending to prevent such vertical bouncing when the ball isdeflected or rebounded.

The floor; portions or playing surfaces in the goal spaces are inclined upwardly at a slight angle from the normal level surface of the passages. On these inclined fioors or playing surfaces, designated 5, are placed goal members 6 which, in this instance, are in the form of relatively flat square pyramids with their apexes removed and holes, recesses, or depressions 6a formed in the place thereof for receiving the ball for scoring a goal. Within the goal member is mounted a trough 7 which is provided at one end with an enlarged funnel shaped portion 7a which registers with the hole 6a. This trough member, in this instance, extends backwardly and is inclined backwardly so that the ball received in the enlarged end will by gravity roll backwardly. In connection with the goal member, we have provided a signalling means for signalling when a goal has been made. In this instance, the signalling means consists of an ordinary call bell 8 which is mounted below the trough member and which extends with its button 8a through and slightly upwardly from the bottom of the trough member so that when the ball rolls through the trough, the button is depressed and the bell rung to notify all of the players that a goal has been made. As the ball emerges from the rear or far end of the trough, the same passes over a ball directing member 9 which may consist of a plate having a ridge portion in line with the trough member and inclined surfaces extending downwardly at slight angles from the ridge, for directing the ball to either side of the ridge on to the inclined surface 5 and from thence to the passage to which the particular goal space is connected. The portion of the trough extending through the goal member maybe covered by an arch member for completing the passage for the ball through the goal member. It will be here noted that the inclined playing floor or surface 5 is also bounded by a rebounding wall or rail, but in this instance only one half of such rail is used.

To the upper portion of the goal member and to the back side of the opening or hole 6a therein may be secured a deflecting plate 11 which may extend. upwardly and backwardly at an angle therefrom, as shown in Fig. 3. On this deflecting plate may be also placed the particular number of the goal as well as the par for the particular hole, that is the number of shots, strokes or drives necessary for the ordinary person to make the particular goal.

In Fig. 6 of the drawings, we have shown a club or mallet which is used for striking the ball in playing the. game. This club is similar to a golf putter but is so constructed that the ball may be struck with either side 12a or 12b of the head 12 of the club, or with the ends 120 or 1202 of the head, the head having fiat ends for this purpose. The ends, that is the toe and heel of the head are used for making difiicult plays near the rails or corners.

The game apparatus may be used for playing diiferent games. In one the opponents drive their respective balls in turn and the one making the goal or the bell first, scores the particular goal or bell; the player scoring the highest number of goals or bells wins. the game. In another game the player farthest from the goal takes the first stroke, and the player driving his ball through the field of play in the lowest number of strokes wins the game.

The game is started by placing the balls on spots designated for such purpose at the end of the passage designated S in Fig. 1. The balls of the respective players are driven against the end rail R of the starting passage and rebounded, the object being to come as near as possible to a line L. The ball nearest the line takes the first stroke. The distance of the other balls from the line L determines the order in which the other players are to drive. After the game is started, the ball is not touched by the hand unless it is knocked out of bounds, that is, over and beyond the particular passage or way. The ball is driven and put in play at each instance from the place where it rests. The balls are then successively driven by the respective players through the passages to the different goals. The first player making a goal leaves the ball rest as and where it is returned from the goal space, while the other players continue to try for the goal until all have made the goal, all the players leaving the balls rest as they are returned from the goal space. In starting the play for the next goal, the balls are put in play where the same rest when returned from the previous goal or bell.

The player first making a goal shall have the first strokes in the play for the next goal, and the others following in the order in. which the last goal was made. Similar orders of play are followed after each goal is made. When the ball is driven over a rail, it is counted as a stroke and the ball is returned to the place from which the ball was struck. If a player can improve his position for a stroke by caroming the ball from an opponents ball, or if he can place the opponent at a disadvantage by striking his ball, it is permissibleto do so without penalty. It is also permissible to jump an opponents ball, or to jump the corners of rails at the juncture of two passages in order to make a better stroke.

Though we have shown and described a particular construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions of our game apparatus, and particular uses and constructions of game elements, and have described certain rules for playing the game, we do not wish to be limited to this particular construction, combination and arrangement, nor to the uses or construction of game elements, nor to any particular rules of play, but desire to include in the scope of our invention the construction, combination and arrangement of elements substantially as set forth in the appended claim.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In a game apparatus, a field of play having thereon a continuous passage and to one side thereof a goal space, an inclined platform extending at a slight angle from the level of the passage to the remote portion of the goal space, a goal member positioned at substantially the middle portion of the inclined platform and having its front wall inclined upwardly and backwardly at a greater angle than the platform, said goal member having a recess in its upper portion, and a ball conducting channel extending backwardly from the recess to the rear side of the goal member, the portion of the platform behind the goal member being raised slightly above the platform forming a ridge backwardly from the middle portion of the goal member and inclined surfaces at the opposite sides thereof for directing a ball from the channel to either side of the goal member to the passage.

JAMES F. INMAN. MARY INMAN. 

